Breakups are a matter of state in New Zealand, which has launched a campaign to support young people in their separation processes and help them find healthy ways to process their emotions.
Love Better
is a prevention campaign launched in March to promote
"safe, positive and equal"
relationships , the Ministry of Social Development explains on its website.
It will cost about four million dollars over three years, and will target more than 850,000 young people between the ages of 12 and 24.
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The Youthline organization received part of the funds with which it runs a text message and email service dedicated to serving young people who want more help.
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“It's not an approach that any other country in the world has tried,” Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Deputy Minister for Social Development, told The Guardian newspaper.
“The way that we're doing it using some of those real, raw stories, but also making sure that we have platforms that reach young people…is also the power of this campaign,” she added.
According to a study commissioned by the Government in 2022, almost 80% of young people between the ages of 16 and 24 have been in a relationship and 87% of them
have suffered damage
that goes beyond the normal pain of a breakup.
The majority of young people – 55% – are not confident or only “a little” confident that they could end a relationship without harm, according to figures cited by The Guardian.
Additionally, one in six young people faced physical arguments in their relationships.
Domestic violence is considered one of the worst social ills in the country.
"We have very high rates of family and sexual violence in New Zealand," Radhakrishnan said.
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The objective of the campaign is to recognize that
"breakups hurt,
but that there is a way to overcome them without harming themselves or others," the Government details.
The campaign will focus on developing the skills and knowledge young people need to
safely navigate breakups,
while creating a community of equals to learn from and inspire each other.